The Walton-Verona Bearcats baseball team (13-3 overall) may not have known much about its All A Sectional opponent.
The Highlands Latin Highlanders (7-5) from Louisville won the 7th Region and the two met at the Walton-Verona Sports Complex in Verona in the battle to move on to the All A State Quarterfinals at Eastern Kentucky University next weekend. Highlands Latin was founded in 2000 and is in its third season as a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
It turned into a battle that came down to the final at-bat. But the Bearcats came through for a 4-3 win.
Tied 3-3 with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Walton-Verona senior Nick Allen drew a walk off Highlands Latin senior left-handed pitcher Trevor Geddes (1-3) then stole second and third. After junior second baseman Evan Kerns drew a walk, Highlands Latin intentionally walked junior designated hitter Jimmy Shields to load the bases.
“(Geddes) threw with more velocity than we’re used to,” said Clint Coleman, Walton-Verona Head Coach. “He’s very similar to a Trimble County lefty that we saw earlier in the season so that was good preparation for us. It definitely took a couple innings to get to him. He had a nice little breaking pitch that kept us off-stride. I thought we did a good job later in the game being patient and hitting strikes.”
But junior first baseman Lance Coleman stepped up to the challenge for the Bearcats. He smacked an 0-1 fastball past the draw-in Highlander infield to score Allen for the game-winning hit.
“Being a left-handed hitter, my nightmare is lefty pitching and I thought (Geddes) did a great job,” Lance Coleman said. “Once they intentionally walked Jimmy, I knew my number would be called. I was really happy I was able to come through. I caught it off the handle. It didn’t feel the greatest. But I guess I got enough on it to go right up the middle. I saw it go through and I’ve never been happier.”
Walton-Verona batted .296 (8 for 27) overall. Kerns, Shields and junior center fielder Ethan Mills had two hits each. Mills doubled in the gap in left to start the second inning.
Allen started the game for Walton-Verona pitching into the sixth inning. But sophomore Mason Howard (3-1) took over in a tough spot in the bottom of the sixth and retired all four batters he faced. Allen and Howard limited the Highlanders to just a .143 (3 for 21) clip at the plate.
Highlands Latin scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Sophomore center fielder Caleb Kang led off with a walk before sophomore first baseman Jed Hamilton singled him to second. Kang moved to third on a Walton-Verona error then scored when Geddes hit a sacrifice fly to left.
But the Bearcats took the lead in the bottom of the third. Junior Carter Krohman led off with a single then took second when Allen reached on a Highlander error then scored with one out when Shields singled. Allen came home when Mills singled to give Walton-Verona a 2-1 advantage.
Walton-Verona added a run in the bottom of the fifth to go up 3-1. Kerns singled, took second on a wild pitch then stole third before Shields singled him home.
The Highlanders tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth with two unearned runs. Hamilton singled then stole second before senior shortstop Jake Hamilton reached on a Walton-Verona error before Geddes drew a hit by pitch to load the bases.
Allen coaxed Highlands Latin junior catcher Eli Robson into a fielder’s choice. Krohman threw to sophomore Bryce Corpus at third to force Jake Hamilton for the first out and Jed Hamilton scored cutting the Walton-Verona lead to 3-2.
“We knew Nick (Allen) was going to throw strikes for us,” Krohman said. “We just had to field it and make the routine plays.”
Highlands Latin sophomore third baseman Truman Neuner hit a hard one off Allen. But Allen recovered to throw him out at third moving Geddes and Robson up one base with two out. But the next two Highlanders drew hit by pitches to score Geddes to tie the game.
“We feel like defense is one of our strengths,” Coach Coleman said. “Probably 49 out of 50, (Bryce) Corpus makes that play on third. It just didn’t happen in that situation. Obviously, they scored the two unearned runs there and made it tougher on us than it should. But our guys fought hard. I’m just super proud of them for getting the job done.”
But Howard came in and ended the threat. On a 3-2 count to Highlands Latin senior left fielder Aaron McGraw, Howard found the strike zone to leave the bases loaded then retired the side in the top of the seventh setting up the exciting end in the bottom of the inning.
“I was excited I didn’t walk (McGraw) to let my team down,” Howard said. “When the ump made the call, I was excited. I showed some emotion and it brought the team together. All credit goes to Nick. He pitched an excellent game then at the end got a little fatigued. I fed off him. It’s a great team win.”
Walton-Verona will play in the All A Quarterfinals at 3 p.m. on April 30 at Eastern Kentucky University. The opponent will be either the Beechwood Tigers (14-1) or the Nicholas County Blue Jackets (11-6).
But the Bearcats play in the Doc Morris Invitational on Friday at Campbell County against Conner (17-2). Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Baseball:
Beechwood 5, Ryle 3:
The host Tigers (14-1) built a 4-0 on the Raiders (8-9) after two innings and held on for the win in the Doc Morris Invitational.
Both teams had six hits and one error. Junior right fielder Cameron Boyd went 3 for 3 with a home run, one run batted in and three runs scored to lead the Tigers. Junior catcher Brice Estep went 2 for 3 with a home run, four RBI and one run scored.
“Every day we come out and play a good game,” Boyd said. “I just love how we’re playing right now. It means a lot to us. You can see when we play. We put our hearts into the game every single game, which is great to see from all of us.”
Junior Matthew Kappes (2-0) pitched the first four innings to earn the win. He struck out four, walked one and allowed three hits and one earned run. Junior Sam Stacy pitched the next two innings and junior Torin O’Shea finished it pitching the seventh. Stacy and O’Shea struck out two each.
“(Ryle Head Coach) Joe Aylor and his staff do a really good job,” said Kevin Gray, Beechwood Head Coach. “(The Raiders) play a really tough schedule. I know what they have coming back. They’re going to be one of the teams you’re going to have to beat to win the region.”
Senior left fielder Tristan Musson went 2 for 3 to lead Ryle. Junior designated hitter TJ Schira added two RBI.
Senior Josh Furtado (1-2) pitched five innings taking the loss for the Raiders. Furtado struck out nine before senior Walker Bludworth pitched the sixth striking out one.
“Josh Furtado pitched a heck of a game. He had every pitch working and made it really difficult for us,” Gray said. “You’re not going to win every game 12-2. We did exactly what we wanted to do. We’re trying to prep for Sunday (at Nicholas County in the All A Section Tournament Game with the pitching staff). It was a really good game where we had to manufacture some runs.”
Ryle plays again in the Doc Morris Invitational against Batesville (Indiana) at 5:30 p.m. Beechwood plays Walton-Verona (13-3) in the Doc Morris on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Highlands 2, St. Henry 1:
The Bluebirds (10-7) broke a four-game losing streak with the win over the Crusaders (11-4-1).
“We told our guys we have to win close games, especially when we get to post-season,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. “We were able to make a play when we needed it, make a pitch when we needed it. I thought that was the most important thing. I’m really proud of the way the guys on the mound and the defense responded.”
Junior Ryan DeBurger and sophomore Zach DeSylva combined to no-hit the Crusaders. DeBurger struck out one and DeSylva struck out two. DeBurger walked two batters and allowed an unearned run.
Highlands scored on an error in the top of the second then went up 2-0 in the top of the fifth. Senior Charlie Gorman singled to left to score senior Drew Hack.
“Every hit in this game was huge,” Gorman said. “We haven’t been ourselves these last couple games. We just need to get to playing the way we were at the beginning of the season. We were having fun.”
Highlands batted .200 (6 for 30) to pull off the win. Senior Nick Robinson led the way going 3 for 3 with a run scored.
Highlands plays Lexington Christian (7-10-1) at Beechwood on Friday at 7:30 p.m. St. Henry takes on Covington Catholic (8-7) at 5 p.m. on Friday at home.
Cooper 4, Scott 1:
The Jaguars (5-10) won a second straight game on the road against the Eagles (4-12) in the Doc Morris Invitational.
Scott outhit Cooper. 5-4. But the Jaguars scored two runs off three Scott errors and allowed no unearned runs off their one error.
“I thank Scott and (Head Coach) Kevin Goins for getting the field ready so we can play,” said Scott Buckler, Cooper Head Coach. “You can’t do much about the weather. We need to clean up on our defense. If we can match our defense with our hitting and pitching, good things can happen for us.”
Senior Corbin Fletcher (1-0) pitched the first six innings striking out 11, walking one and allowing one earned run and five hits for Cooper. Junior Logan Dean pitched the seventh.
Senior first baseman Jake Jennings led Cooper at the plate going 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI. Cooper drew four walks.
“I really do like the way the team’s playing right now,” Jennings said. “We’ve put some offense together along with some good plays in the field. When we put (everything together), we’re a dangerous team.”
Junior Casey Hilbert took the loss for Scott pitching five innings striking out six, walking four and allowing three hits and two earned runs. Sophomore Gunner Bleha and sophomore Porter Huston pitched one inning each. Sophomore shortstop Dylan Giffen led the Eagles at the plate going 2 for 4.
Cooper takes on Newport Central Catholic (9-4) at Dixie Heights on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Scott plays host to Lexington Lafayette at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Softball:
Boone County 12, Scott 2 (6 innings):
The Lady Rebels (6-8) downed the Lady Eagles (6-7) on Senior Day. Both teams committed one error.
Senior KB Irwin (5-5) threw a complete game picking up the win. She struck out one and allowed seven walks and two earned runs. She went 3 for 5 at the plate with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored.
“We kind of try to come together as a team, which is something really huge that we’re trying to work on this year,” Irwin said. “The hitting pulled through. It took us time to time up the pitcher (Scott sophomore Emma Scribner). But once we did, I think we started having very timely hits. We had some good gap shots.”
Boone County Head Coach Andy Petridis recalled when the Lady Rebels were 5-8 around this time a year ago. Boone County finished 24-11 and won the 33rd District and 9th Region titles.
“The difference this year is we have a lot of inexperience, a lot of getting play time,” Petridis said. “It’s a lot of getting them to be able to play in the moment. The lights are on. It’s time to show up.”
Boone County batted .440 (11 for 25) with four players recording multi-hit games. Freshman right fielder Savannah Steele went 2 for 2 with two RBI, one run scored and two walks. Sophomore second baseman Amariana Sweet went 2 for 2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Senior center fielder Mia Nixson went 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored. Seventh grade left fielder Alivia Scott scored two runs.
“I thought Scott actually did a really nice job,” Petridis said. “That’s the probably the deepest line-up hitting-wise that I’ve seen in a while from (the Lady Eagles). They have some good athletes over there. We put our kids in a couple tough spots and minus a few at-bats, we took the walk when we needed a walk. We capitalized on a number of runs that were there and obviously got a good result.”
Scott batted .182 (4 for 22). Junior first baseman Kayla Overman had a triple and freshman catcher Emerson Morman doubled.
Boone County travels to Ryle (8-9) for a 33rd District seed game at 5 p.m. Friday.
Other April 21 NKY Baseball Scores:
Holy Cross 15, Cincinnati (Ohio) Western Hills 4
Bishop Brossart 9, Pendleton County 0
Nicholas County 6, Lloyd Memorial 4
Other April 21 NKY Softball Score:
Dayton 8, Lloyd Memorial 5